Coin holder with removeable mounting bracket

ABSTRACT

A coin holder for multiple coin denominations comprising different diameter tubes to fit for example quarters, dimes and nickels with springs therein for urging the coins upwardly against stops, the tubes being of graduated height so that the user may identify the coins by feel. The holder has a mounting bracket which is adaptable to hang on the car ash tray and at least one of the springs in one of the tubes is arranged to urge a releasable locking element into engagement with the bracket in addition to urging the coins in the particular tube upwardly. The tubes are tangentially arranged at the front side of the holder to develop a finger accommodation space between the back sides of the tubes and a mounting bracket to facilitate assembly and disassembly of the parts.

United States Patent Kitowski 1 July 11,1972

[54] COIN HOLDER WITH REMOVEABLE MOUNTING BRACKET [21] Appl. No.: 34,714

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 645,462 11/1950 Great Britain ..133/6 366.320 2/1932 GreatBritain ..133/6 Primary EraminerRobert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-David A. Scherbel Attorney-John J. Kowalik l 5 1 ABSTRACT A coin holder for multiple coin denominations comprising different diameter tubes to fit for example quarters, dimes and nickels with springs therein for urging the coins upwardly against stops, the tubes being of graduated height so that the user may identify the coins by feel. The holder has a mounting bracket which is adaptable to hang on the car ash tray and at least one of the springs in one 01 the tubes is arranged to urge a releasable locking element into engagement with the bracket in addition to urging the coins in the particular tube upwardly. The tubes are tangentially arranged at the front side of the holder to develop a finger accommodation space between the back sides of the tubes and a mounting bracket to facilitate assembly and disassembly of the parts.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures COIN HOLDER WITI-I REMOVEABLE MOUNTING BRACKET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Coin holders or such are well known in the art. There are many which are of sophisticated construction, expensive and well functioning. Other devices are relatively cheap and inexpensive, but frequently malfunction or are fragile. For manufacturing purposes many units require expensive and complicated dies of special construction especially where the parts are made of plastics by injection moulding.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to a novel coin holder which is capable of being manufactured inexpensively from standard tubular and flat stock.

A general object of the invention is to devise a coin holder which comprises a plurality of tubes of diameters comparable to that of different coins and wherein these tubes are of different heights on a common support and in a prearranged position as indicia for the user of the coin denomination so that the user without looking can readily extract the required amount. This is particularly useful when driving tollways so that the driver need not take his eyes off the road.

A further object is to provide in an inexpensive coin holder a novel, simple and effective interlocking arrangement between the coin holder and the mounting hanger.

A more specific object is to provide a novel interlock for the holder with the hanger wherein the same spring is used to bias the coins upwardly to the exit opening also biases a locking member into interlocking engagement with the hanger.

These and other objects and advantages inherent in and incompossed by the invention will become more readily apparent from the specifications and the drawings, wherein:

FIG. I is an exploded perspective view of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof with parts broken away and shown in vertical section.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view thereof, and

FIG. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view thereof taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Ihe coin holder generally designated 2 is preferably formed of plastic, though not necessarily. It comprises of three vertieal cylinders or tubes 3, 4 and 5 having internal diameters to accommodate. for example quarters, nickels and dimes. Tube 3 may be the tallest, tube 4 of intermediate height and tube 5 may be the shortest.

These tubes as best seen in the drawings are disposed in alignment longitudinally on a rectangular base 7 having flat top and bottom sides 8 and 9 and parallel front and rear edges 10 and II and squared off end edges 12 and I3. Tubes 3, 4 and 5 are mounted at their lower ends 14, 1S and 16 on the top surface 8 of the base 7 and are connected therewith as by gluing or by integration by applying a suitable solvent such as acetone, etc., to the plastic composing the tubes and the base as well known to those skilled in the art.

The tubes 3, 4 and 5 are preferably aligned tangentially at their forward sides I7, I8 and 19 (FIG. 3) with the flat back side 20 of an interconnecting plastic panel 21 which is secured by cementing or integrating as at 22, 23 and 24 with said forward sides l7. l8 and 19 of the tubes 3, 4 and 5.

The front side 25 of this panel 21 may serve for advertisements. etc., if desired.

The lower horizontal edge 26 of the panel 21 is spaced upwardly from the top side 8 of the base 7 and the tubes 3, 4 and S are spaced rearwardly from the front edge I0 of the base and define with the top side 8 of the base 7 and the bottom edge 26 of the panel 21 a horizontal slot 27 elongated parallel with the base 7 and accommodating endwise insertion of an intumed flange 28 which is formed on the upper edge of an upturned flange 29 at the forward edge of a rectangular base 30 of a hanger generally designated 3|. The base 30, and flanges 29,

28 define a horizontally elongated groove 32 admitting the forward edge portion 33 of the base 7 and interlocking the base 7 with the base 30.

Base of the hanger 31 is a generally flat rectangular member having a flat top surface 35 which seats the bottom flat surface 9 of the base 7. The base 7 of the coin holder is dimensioned widthwise to fit complementally between the upturned flange 29 of base 30 and a forward side 36 of a vertical upright rear wall 37 of the hanger 31.

The upper end of wall 37 is formed with a hook 38 comprising a flange 39 extending rearwardly from the upper edge of wall 37 and formed at its rear edge with a depending rear flange 40 which at its lower edge has a folded over edge portion 4] for stiffening flange 40.

The flanges 40, 39 and wall 37 form a pocket 43 of the hook 38 whereby the device may be hung from a windshield visor or from an ash tray of a car and the like.

A feature of the invention is in the provision of means for releasably interlocking the coin holder with the mounting bracket or hanger 3]. It will be observed that in the center coin tube 4 there is provided a helical coil spring 45 (FIG. 4) bearing at its upper end as at 46 against the underside of a circular guide disk or follower 47 which is dimensioned to complimentally fit into the bore 48 of tube 4. The disk 47 on its upper side 49 provides support for a stack of coins 50 which in the present instance are five cent pieces. The coins are urged or biased upwardly against the undersides 51.52 of a pair of circumferentially spaced lip elements 53,54 which are located at one side, that is rearwardly of the diameter of the tube 4. These elements 53,54 which diverge toward the forward side I8 of the tube 4 and define a finger-accommodation space therebetween to facilitate extraction of the coins 50 which the user does by depressing the portion of the coin in vertical alignment with the space 55 and pulling the coin forwardly over the recessed or downwardly offset forward upper edge 57 (FIG. 2) of the tube 4. The lower end of the spring 45 seats on the top surface 58 of a disk 59 of a locking element 60 which comprises a fitting complementally within the bore 48 of tube 4 and seating with its lower side 61 (FIG. 4) against the top side 8 of the base 7 and has a central depending projection or latching element 62 which extends through an opening 63 in the base 7 and through a vertically registering opening 64 in the base 30.

Then as best seen in FIG. 4, the base 7 and base 30 are interlocked by means of the front edge lip structure generally indicated 65 of the base 30 embracing the front edge portion 33 of base 7 and also by the pin 62 which projects through opening 64 in base 30 below its lower surface 66.

The lower end of the bolt 62 is rounded at 67 to facilitate separation of the coin holder from the hanger which is accomplished by the user manually pressing with one hand on the bolt or projection 62 upwardly while entering the fingers of his other hand into the widened digit accommodation space 69 formed between the wall 37 and tube 4 and 5. The user grasps the back side 70 of tube 5 with his fingers and adjacent portion of the front panel H with his thumb and pulls lengthwise on the coin holder rightwardly (FIG. 3) while holding the hanger bracket with his other end and pulling Ieftwardly (FIG. 3). The rounded lower end 64 of the pin readily wedges the pin out of opening 64 and when the parts are reassembled the rounded bottom of the pin wedges over the end edge I3 after being partially pressed into the coin holder tube 4.

It will now be appreciated that the placement of the tubes 3, 4,5 of diminishing diameter as heretofore described forms the beforementioned digit accommodation space 69 which widens toward the right end of the assembly as seen in FIG. 3.

It will be observed that the tube 3 has lips 72,73 arranged similarly as lips 53,54 and holder 5 also has similar lips 74,75 and that the front upper portion 76 (FIG. 2) of tube 3 is offset below lips 72,73 and front upper edge 77 is offset below lips 74,75 in each instance to facilitate removal of coins 78, and 79 which are urged upwardly by springs 80,8I pressed against followers 82,83 in the bores 84,85 of tubes 3 and 5. The springs 80 and 8! are located in the respective bores and seat against the top 8 of the wall 7.

It will be appreciated that a novel and efficient coin holder has been provided which is relatively inexpensive to make and assemble and wherein the parts cooperate in a unique manner to interlock the assembly and that in view of this disclosure various embodiments of the invention will become apparent which come within the scope of the appended claims.

lclaim:

l. A coin dispenser comprising a base, a plurality of upright coin holder mounted thereon, and a support bracket releasably secured to the base for mounting thereof on associated structure, said bracket and base having aligned openings beneath one holder, a coin follower at the bottom of each holder, a spring beneath each follower for urging the follower upwardly, and supplementary interlocking means in said one holder comprising spring-pressed abutment means within said one holder engaged with said spring therein urging said abutment means downwardly and including projection means on said abutment means extending through said openings in said base and bracket for releasably interlocking the same.

2. A coin despenser according to claim 1 and said base being generally rectangular with a straight front edge said holders being of different diameters and arranged in progressively decreasing order from one end to the other of the holder and having forward sides arranged tangentially to a plane parallel with the front edge, said bracket having a rear portion opposing the back sides of said holders and extending generally parallel with said plane and defining with said holders a hand accommodation space widening toward the other end of the holder.

3. The invention according to claim 1 and said base being generally rectangular with a straight front edge, said holders being of different diameters and arranged in progressively decreasing order from one end to the other of the holder and having forward sides arranged tangentially to a plane parallel with the front edge, said bracket having a rear portion opposing the back sides of said holders and extending generally parallel with said plane and defining with said holders a hand accommodation space widening toward other end of the holder, and said holders being of progressively smaller height toward said one end ofthe device.

4. The invention according to claim 3 and said base being generally rectangular with a straight from edge, said holders being of different diameters and arranged in progressively decreasing order from one end to the other of the holder and having forward sides arranged tangentially to a plane parallel with the front edge, said bracket having a rear portion opposing the back sides of said holders and extending generally parallel with said plane and defining with said holders a hand accommodation space widening toward other end of the holder, and said holders being of progressively smaller height toward said one end of the device, and said bracket comprising a base portion underposed with respect to said base and having clamping means slidably embracing said base at said front edge and interlocked therewith against transverse separation, and said base having a rear edge in abutment with said rear portion of the bracket.

5. The invention according to claim I and said base being generally rectangular with a straight front edge, said holders being of different diameters and arranged in progressively decreasing order from one end to the other of the holder and having forward sides arranged tangentially to a plane parallel with the front edge, said bracket having a rear portion opposing the back sides of said holders and extending generally parallel with said plane and defining with said holders a hand accommodation space widening toward other end of the holder, and said holders being of progressively smaller height toward said one end of the device, and said bracket comprising a base portion underposed with respect to said base and having clamping means slidably embracing said base at said front edge and interlocked therewith against transverse separation, and said base having a rear edge in abutment with said rear portion of the brac et and supplementary interlocking on the holder and base portion.

6. A coin dispenser comprising a base, a plurality of upright tubular coin holders mounted thereon, and a bracket releasably secured to the base for the mounting thereof on associated structure, and said base being generally rectangular with a straight front edge, said holders being of different diameters and arranged in progressively decreasing order from one end to the other of the holder and having forward sides arranged tangentially to a plane parallel with the front edge, said bracket having a rear portion opposing the back sides of said holders and extending generally parallel with said plane and defining with said holders a hand accommodation space widening toward the other end of the holder, and said holders being of progressively smaller height toward said one end of the device, and said bracket comprising a base portion underposed with respect to said base and having clamping means slidably embracing said base at said front edge and interlocked therewith against transverse separation, and said base having a rear edge in abutment with said rear portion of the bracket and supplementary interlocking means on the holder and base portion, and said supplementary means comprising spring-pressed abutment means within one of said holders and a projection on said abutment means extending through transverse aligned openings in said base and base pornon.

7. The invention according to claim 6 and compression spring means seated on said abutment means. and a coin follower seated upon said spring means and vertically slidable within said one holder.

8. The invention according to claim 7 and said projection and openings disposed intermediate said front and rear edges of said base and base portion.

9. The invention according to claim 8 and each holders comprising a pair of inwardly extending coin holding lips at the upper edge of each holder.

10. The invention according to claim 9, and said lips being located at the back side of the respective holders and laterally spaced apart from each other to form a digit-accommodation space. 

1. A coin dispenser comprising a base, a plurality of upright coin holder mounted thereon, and a support bracket releasably secured to the base for mounting thereof on associated structure, said bracket and base having aligned openings beneath one holder, a coin follower at the bottom of each holder, a spring beneath each follower for urging the follower upwardly, and supplementary interlocking means in said one holder comprising spring-pressed abutment means within said one holder engaged with said spring therein urging said abutment means downwardly and including projection means on said abutment means extending through said openings in said base and bracket for releasably interlocking the same.
 2. A coin despenser according to claim 1 and said base being generally rectangular with a straight front edge said holders being of different diameters and arranged in progressively decreasing order from one end to the other of the holder and having forward sides arranged tangentially to a plane parallel with the front edge, said bracket having a rear portion opposing the back sides of said holders and extending generally parallel with said plane and defining with said holders a hand accommodation space widening toward the other end of the holder.
 3. The invention according to claim 1 and said base being generally rectangular with a straight front edge, said holders being of different diameters and arranged in progressively decreasing order from one end to the other of the holder and having forward sides arranged tangentially to a plane parallel with the front edge, said bracket having a rear portion opposing the back sides of said holders and extending generally parallel with said plane and defining with said holders a hand accommodation space widening toward other end of the holder, and said holders being of progressively smaller height toward said one end of the device.
 4. The invention according to claim 3 and said base being generally rectangular with a straight fronT edge, said holders being of different diameters and arranged in progressively decreasing order from one end to the other of the holder and having forward sides arranged tangentially to a plane parallel with the front edge, said bracket having a rear portion opposing the back sides of said holders and extending generally parallel with said plane and defining with said holders a hand accommodation space widening toward other end of the holder, and said holders being of progressively smaller height toward said one end of the device, and said bracket comprising a base portion underposed with respect to said base and having clamping means slidably embracing said base at said front edge and interlocked therewith against transverse separation, and said base having a rear edge in abutment with said rear portion of the bracket.
 5. The invention according to claim 1 and said base being generally rectangular with a straight front edge, said holders being of different diameters and arranged in progressively decreasing order from one end to the other of the holder and having forward sides arranged tangentially to a plane parallel with the front edge, said bracket having a rear portion opposing the back sides of said holders and extending generally parallel with said plane and defining with said holders a hand accommodation space widening toward other end of the holder, and said holders being of progressively smaller height toward said one end of the device, and said bracket comprising a base portion underposed with respect to said base and having clamping means slidably embracing said base at said front edge and interlocked therewith against transverse separation, and said base having a rear edge in abutment with said rear portion of the bracket and supplementary interlocking on the holder and base portion.
 6. A coin dispenser comprising a base, a plurality of upright tubular coin holders mounted thereon, and a bracket releasably secured to the base for the mounting thereof on associated structure, and said base being generally rectangular with a straight front edge, said holders being of different diameters and arranged in progressively decreasing order from one end to the other of the holder and having forward sides arranged tangentially to a plane parallel with the front edge, said bracket having a rear portion opposing the back sides of said holders and extending generally parallel with said plane and defining with said holders a hand accommodation space widening toward the other end of the holder, and said holders being of progressively smaller height toward said one end of the device, and said bracket comprising a base portion underposed with respect to said base and having clamping means slidably embracing said base at said front edge and interlocked therewith against transverse separation, and said base having a rear edge in abutment with said rear portion of the bracket and supplementary interlocking means on the holder and base portion, and said supplementary means comprising spring-pressed abutment means within one of said holders and a projection on said abutment means extending through transverse aligned openings in said base and base portion.
 7. The invention according to claim 6 and compression spring means seated on said abutment means, and a coin follower seated upon said spring means and vertically slidable within said one holder.
 8. The invention according to claim 7 and said projection and openings disposed intermediate said front and rear edges of said base and base portion.
 9. The invention according to claim 8 and each holders comprising a pair of inwardly extending coin holding lips at the upper edge of each holder.
 10. The invention according to claim 9, and said lips being located at the back side of the respective holders and laterally spaced apart from each other to form a digit-accommodation space. 